a man but a spirit, signora."

"I wish he were," declared Jenny. "But it was not a ghost you heard
leap into the wood, Assunta. I will run as fast as I can and take
the short cuts."

They parted and Jenny hastened, risked her neck sometimes, and sped
forward with the energy of youth and on the wings of fear. Assunta
saw her stop and turn and listen once or twice; then the crags and
hanging thickets hid her from view.

Jenny saw and heard no more of the being who had thus so
unexpectedly returned into her life. Her thoughts were wholly with
Albert Redmayne and, as she told him when she met him, it remained
for him to consider the significance of this event and determine
what steps should be taken for his own safety. He was at Bellagio
when she reached home, and his manservant, Assunta's brother,
Ernesto, explained that Mr. Redmayne had crossed after luncheon to
visit his dearest friend, the book lover, Virgilio Poggi.

"A book came by the postman, signora, and the master must needs hire
boat and cross at once," explained Ernesto, who spoke good English
and was proud of his accomplishment.

Jenny waited impatiently and she was at the landing stage when
Albert returned. He smiled to see her and took off his great slouch
hat.

"My beloved Virgilio was overjoyed that I should have found the
famous book--the veritable Italian edition of Sir Thomas
Browne--his 'Pseudodoxia Epidemica.' A red-letter day for us both!
But--but--" He looked at Jenny's frightened eyes and felt her hand
upon his sleeve. "Why, what is wrong? You are alarmed. No ill news
of Giuseppe?"

"Come home quickly," she answered, "and I will explain. A very
terrible thing has happened. I cannot think what we should do. Only
this I know: I am not going to leave you again until it is cleared
up."

At home Albert took off his great hat and cloak. Then he sat in his
study--an amazing chamber, lined with books to the lofty ceiling and
dark in tone by reason of the prevalent rich but sombre bindings of
five thousand volumes. Jenny told him that she had seen Robert
Redmayne, whereupon her uncle considered for five minutes, then
declared himself both puzzled and alarmed. He showed no fear,
however, and his large, luminous eyes shone out of his little,
withered face unshadowed. None the less he was quick to read danger
into this extraordinary incident.

"You are positive?" he asked. "Everything depends on that. If you
have seen my unfortunate, vanished brot